Craig Kelly is expected to be named as CEO of Collingwood in the coming days.
The news was confirmed by Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary on Thursday after SEN’s Sam Edmund reported it as a “fait accompli” back in December.
INFLUENTIAL PAST PLAYER THE “$1.01 FAVOURITE” TO TAKE OVER AS COLLINGWOOD CEO
With it now almost a certainty that the 1990 premiership player will take the role, Edmund pondered how it will work with Kelly also the outgoing boss of leading sports talent and marketing agency TLA who manage players and coaches at rival clubs.
“It will be a pretty big shakeup for the competition given the ownership of TLA,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
“We know he sold the company of course, but has remained involved. They are the biggest mover and shaker in the industry.
“They’ve got more than 300 players, a raft of coaches, they’ve even got the Collingwood coach (Craig McRae) on the books.
“I would have thought he’d have to completely disengage from TLA to take the position to avoid a pretty big conflict of interest.
“His son (Will) is on the list, we’ve seen that before, that shouldn’t be an impediment.”
Simon O’Donnell feels that Kelly will have put plans in place to sever ties with TLA in order to take up the job with the Magpies.
“He’s been waiting to get himself off any association with TLA before he takes the CEO position, that’s what I understand,” he said.
Edmund replied: “He was on long service leave, he might still very well be.
“He did sell up but hadn’t quit the company. You’re assuming that will now happen if he’s to accept the Collingwood position.”
Given Kelly’s business and football acumen, O’Donnell sees it as a “brilliant” and “smart” move by the club.
“It’s a great get for Collingwood,” he said.
“To have the sort of intimate intel of football as your CEO, it’s a brilliant move from Collingwood.
“Jeff Browne and the board, they’ve go to be commended. This is so smart.”
Edmund added: “It’s a good appointment.”
Mark Anderson was the last CEO at Collingwood, departing the club in early November after five years in the role.
Football boss Graham Wright stepped in as his replacement on an interim basis.